Sudan army chief rules out peace talks without RSF disarmament

June 26, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese army chief and Sovereign Council head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Friday ruled out entering into peace negotiations with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) unless the group disarms and dismantles its forces.

Addressing worshippers at the Sheikh Abu Qaroon religious centre east of Khartoum, Burhan stated that the military would reject any political settlement that falls short of these conditions.

He added that there are no middle-ground solutions to the ongoing war, asserting that the conflict must end with the total elimination of the RSF across the country.

Burhan warned that if the military and the Sudanese people fail to secure a decisive victory, the paramilitary group would inevitably return to the political landscape and commit further abuses.

The army chief dismissed calls from some Sudanese politicians for military reforms, including restructuring the armed forces, declaring that military affairs are not the business of civilian political factions.

He stated that the army’s gradual military strategy was succeeding, citing the expulsion of the RSF from parts of Al-Jazira, White Nile, and Khartoum states, while promising to reclaim control of the Darfur and Kordofan regions.

Burhan condemned those who claim neutrality in the civil war, accusing them of abandoning what is right while the RSF targets civilians and infrastructure, such as power and water facilities, in El Obeid.